The 2016 Barolo Falletto Vigna Le Rocche Riserva is the second 100-point wine in the Le Rocche programme at Giacosa, following the legendary 2015, and it is considered by many Barolo specialists to be the more structured, age-worthy and classically austere of the two. James Suckling awarded the wine 100 points and described it as perhaps the most structured young Barolo he had ever tasted from the estate, praising its “incredible power” and the “purity of fruit” from the oldest vines in the Falletto cru, while Wine Advocate awarded 98 points, highlighting the wine’s “massive structure, density and long ageing potential” from Serralunga d’Alba. The Le Rocche Riserva is produced only in exceptional vintages from the oldest sections of the Falletto vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba, making it one of the rarest and most sought-after red wines in all of Italy. In the magnum format, the development of this wine over the coming two to three decades will be extraordinary.

The 2016 Barolo vintage was defined by a warm summer without heat spikes, low humidity and a late harvest of perfectly ripe, concentrated Nebbiolo, consistently described as a great classic vintage alongside the celebrated 2013 and 2010. From the Falletto vineyard’s Helvetian Tortonian marl and compact sandstone soils in Serralunga d’Alba, the 2016 produced Nebbiolo of formidable tannin structure, exceptional mineral depth and the distinctive iron and tar character that has made Serralunga the appellation’s most powerful and age-worthy zone. Bruna Giacosa has continued her father’s philosophy of extended maceration and botte ageing without compromise, and the 2016 Le Rocche Riserva reflects the full authority of both the terroir and the winemaking philosophy that has made Giacosa the definitive name in Barolo production over the past six decades.

Deep ruby with a hauntingly pure nose of blackberry, black truffle, iron, wet stones, dark mineral and camphor from the Serralunga Tortonian soils. Full-bodied with colossal but perfectly integrated tannins, electric natural acidity and a finish of virtually endless length and mineral intensity. The greatest young Le Rocche in memory. Best from 2030 through 2065.

This is the second 100-point Vigna Le Rocche. What the former had in intensity of fruit and transparency, this has in structure and power. The purity of fruit is sensational. Iron, rust and blackberry. This may be the most structured Barolo from Bruno Giacosa I have ever tasted as a young wine. — James Suckling

The wine boasts all the signature touches of Serralunga d’Alba with the massive structure, density and the long ageing potential. The bouquet is fluid and ever-shifting, showing new sides with firm fruit, blackberry, smoke, rusty nail and mineral with every swirl. — Wine Advocate